Apparatus for opening and filling bags



Feb. 6, 1951 M. J. HARRINGTON ETAL 2,540,615

APPARATUS FOR OPENING AND FILLING BAGS '3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. I10, 1946 INVENTORS 6, 1951 M. J. HARRINGTON arm. 2,540,

APPARATUS FOR OPENING AND FILL ING BAGS Filed Sept. 10, 1946 3Sheets$heet 2 1 H 2 INVENTORS Mal-MEL J/In/ee/NaTa/v y 5HMUEL E. HAM/WEEFeb. 6, 1951 M. J. HARIIQINGTON ETAL 2,540,615

APPARATUS FOR OPENING AND FILLING BAGS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 10,1946 Patented Feb. 6, 1951 APPARATUS FOR OPENING AND FILLING BAGSMichael .I. Harrington, Cleveland, Ohio, and Samuel E. Hammer,Eagleville, Pa.

Application September 10, 1946, Serial No. 695,946

17 Claims.

of substantially coextending members on which 7 a collapsed bag can bemanually slipped by endwise telescoping movement and which members arethen spread apart by the operation of an electric power device fordistending the walls of the bag to a fully opened condition so as toreceive the charge of bulk material. In the apparatus of said earlierapplication it is necessary for the operator to maintain a hold on thebag during the filling operation so as to prevent the bag from droppingoiT the bag-distending members and this prevents the operator fromreaching for or picking up the next bag to be opened and filled untilthe bag in process of being filled has been removed from the machine.The apparatus of said earlier application also includes a switch whichcontrols the electric power. device and is located to be engaged andactuated by the upper end of the bag.

As one of its objects the present invention aims to provide improved bagopening and filling apparatus of a type similar to that of said earlierapplication but in which the above mentioned disadvantage is overcome inthat it is not necessary for the operator to hold the bag on thedistending members. In the improved machine the placing of the bag onthe distending members actuates a switch which initiates the operationof the machine and results in the entire cycle being followed through,including the discharge of the filled bag, without need for the operatorto retain a hold on the bag after the switch has been actuated. Thiswill enable the operator to reach for and pick up a second bagimmediately after the switch has been actuated by the first bag and thusthe operator can be ready to apply the second bag to the machine just assoon as the first bag has been filled and discharged.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved bag openingand filling apparatus of this kind in which means is employed forretaining the bag in place in its open condition during the fillingoperation and which will cause the discharge of the filled bagautomatically.

, Still another object of' the invention is to provide improvedapparatus of the character mentioned in which the means for retainingthe bag in place during the filling operation includes a bag rest whichis movable so as to permit the filled bag to drop off the bag-distendingmembers.

A further object is to provide improved apparatus of the kind referredto, whichembodies a valve for controlling the flow of bulk material intothe bag and wherein the valve is actuated concurrently with theactuation of the bag-distending means.

This invention also aims to provide an improved apparatus of thecharacter mentioned in which the switch controlling the electric powerdevice is of the tiltable type and is disposed so as to be tilted whenengaged by the bag to be opened and wherein holding means retains theswitch in its tilted position for maintaining the power device energizedas long as the bag remains in the filling position.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide improved bag openingand filling apparatus in which the armature of the electric power deviceserves as a counterbalance for the bag distending and valve actuatingmeans and causes the movable members to be returned to their initial orstarting position at the end of the cycle of operation.

The invention can be further briefly summarized as consisting in certainnovel combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described andparticularly set out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying sheets of drawings Fig. l is a plan view of a bagopening and filling apparatus embodying this invention,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof,

Fig. 3 is a partial vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. l,

r Fig. 4 is another partial vertical sectional view taken on line 4-4 ofFig. 1 and showing the relative positions of the parts when the bag isin a fully opened condition,

Fig. 5 is a partial vertical sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is a partial transverse sectional view taken through thedistending members before the bag has been fully opened, as indicated byline 66 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 7 is a similar sectional view taken through the distending memberswhen the bag has been fully opened, the view being taken on line !1 ofFig. 4 and Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing a container bag of akind adapted to be opened and filled by the apparatus of Figs. 1-7,inclusive.

The improved bag opening and filling apparatus it is provided with aframe which includes a transverse top or table I I, a base l2, andspaced columns i3 by which the table H is connected with the base. Thetable II has an opening l4 extending therethrough and through which thebulk material to be bagged or packaged is discharged in a downwarddirection by the chute.

I5. The material to be packaged, such as coffee the chute from otherpredeter-' [9 which he undereneath the osition, as 9 are relain acolslid onto of drawmg t upwardly wn in this View construc ingmemmembers position 4 mitted by a valve 3| located in the chute l5. Thevalve 3i is mounted on a transverse pivot 32 and in its closed positionextends across the passage of the chute in an inclined relation as shownin Fig. 2. A valve actuating arm 33 is connected with the pivot 32 andcarries a roller 34 which cooperates with the actuating face 35 of a cam36. The cam 36 is mounted on the slide ll so that when the slide isactuated to shift the member 19 away from the stationary member 18 todistend the bag 20 to its fully opened condition, the cam face 35*willact on the roller 34 to lift the arm 33 and swing the valve 3| upwardlyto its open position as shown in Fig. 4. When the valve is in its openpositionthe predetermined charge of material is permitted to flow freelythrough the chute i5 and into the bag 20. Any

material which is delivered into the chute by the spout 16 while thevalve 3! is in its closed position is'defl'ected' by the latter into aby-pass' strip 31 can be located in the main chute l5 at a suitablepoint to be engaged by the valve as the latter swings to its openposition. A similar bumper element 38 is provided on the head of a screw39 which is mounted on the table II at a point to be'engaged by the arm33 when the latter moves in a downward-direction to cause closing of thevalve 3!. Another such bumper and silencing element B'Q'can be mountedon the stationary member i8 at a point to be engaged by the member 19when the latter is returned to its initial position. The bumper elements31, 33' and 39 can be made of any suitable resilient material such assponge rubber.

The slide 22 can be actuated by any appropriate power device such as-theelectromagnet or solenoid 4i shown in this instance. The magnet tiincludes a suitable laminated frame ilmounted on the table H andcarryingan energizing coil 43. The magnet also includes a movabiearmature orplunger Mwhich extends through a suitable opening in the table. Thelower end of the armatureas is connected-with a countershaft 5- bymeans'of the-pivoted linlc it-and a lever 2-? fixed on the countershaft.The slide 22-is actuated by the rocking movement of the countershaftimparted thereto by the armature M of the electromagnet and for thispurpose the slide is connected-with the countershaft by means of' thetiltable type and is located adjacent the stationary member it of thebag opening device so that the switch can be-actuated by the upperend ofthe bagwhen the latter is moved onto the bag opening members 18 and isas mentionedabove. The switch 5! can be of any suitable constructionwhich. will enable it to be shifted or tilted by the bag for the purposeindicated. In this instance the switch 5! is of the type comprising aglass or insulating casing into which a pair offixed switch contacts 52extend in spaced relation and in which a body 53 of conducting material,such as mercury, is shiftablein response to tilting of the casing forcausing. opening or closing the electricv circuit at the point of thecontacts 52.

is pivoted at 55 on an arm 56 depending from the table l Aswitch-actuating finger 51 is connected with the bracket 54 and extendsinto the path of movement of the upper end of the bag so as to beengaged thereby to cause tilting or rocking or the switch from the openposition shown in Fig. 2 to the closed position shown in Fig'. 4. Theactuating finger 5? is preferably of a length to extend into an opening58 provided in one of the wings 2'! of the stationary member 83 so thatthe upper end of the bag cannot be moved past the switch without causingthe desired tilting thereof. The tilting of the switch to its closedposition shown in Fig. 4 causes the electromagnet l! to be energizedwhich immediately causes an upward power stroke of the armature Mthereby actuating the slide 22 and the valve 3! to the positions shownin Fig. 4.. The energization of the electromagnet in response to thetilting of the switch 5! thus causes a substantially instantaneousdistending of the bag to its open position shown in Fig. 4 and aconcurrent opening of the valve 3! to permit the fiow of thepredetermined volume of bulk material into the bag 26.

In the arrangement above described for the electromagnet 5! it will benoted that the armature 4 is disposed in a substantially verticalposition and that this enables this member to serve as a counterweightfor the slide 22. The armature is constructed so as to have a weight ormass sufiicient tocause a return movement of the slide andbag-distending member l9 as soon as the electromagnet has beendeenergized. When the filled bag is discharged from the bag-- distendingmembers :3 and it in the manner to bepresently explained, the switch 5 1is free to tilt back to its initial or open position shown in Fig. 2thereby causing deenergization of the circuit of the electromagnet.

An important feature of the present invention is the provision of a bagsupporting means by which the bag 28 will be retained on thebagdistending members is and is during the filling operation so as topermit the operator to let go of this bag and reach for and pick up thenext bag to be filled. This is a very important characteristic of theimproved apparatus H3 because it enables the operator to pick up thenext bag and obtain the grip thereon which is neededto draw the open endof such next bag upwardly in telescoping relation onto thebag-distending members l8 and I9. By being able to pick up the next bagwhile the present bag is being filled greatly speeds up the operation ofbag opening and filling apparatus of this type.

The bag supporting means provided for the accomplishment of thisimportant function includes a bag rest 68 mounted on a horizontal pivot5i which is carried by a bracket 62. The bracket 52 is mounted on one ofthe posts 53 at a suitable elevation so as to locate the rest 5%! inlaterally spaced relation to the lower end of the stationary member I8.The rest 5% is disposed so that when the bag 29 is distended to itsfully opened condition shown in Fig. 4 the side wall 2% will be moved bythe member 19 to a position in which a portion of the bottom ZQc willengage and overlap the rest. During the filling operation the bottom 280is supported on-the rest 60 and the bag is thereby maintained on thebag-distending members it and Hi. When the previously measured charge ofbulk material has been fed into the bag the weight of the bag andcontents will then be such as to cause downward swinging of the rest 66on the pivot 6|; that is", be tripped so as to release the bag andpermit the same to drop off the bag-distending members i8 and [9. Tofacilitate this downward movement of the bag past the rest es and thesubsequent return of the rest to its operative position, the outer endof the rest is preferably constructed as a downwardly curving convex armor plate a as shown in Fig. l.

The bag rest 69 is connected with an arm or lever 63 on which acounterweight 64 is adjustably mounted. The counterweight 64 can beshifted to a desired position on the arm 53 such that the weight of thebag and contents will cause the desired downward swinging ofthe rest 68as explained above and will cause the return of the rest to its initialfull line position shown in Fig. 2. The arm fi l may, if desired, beprovidedwith graduations 65 to facilitate the proper setting of thecounterweight 64 thereon for the particular weight of material beingcharged into the individual bags. The bracket 62 is verticallyadjustable on the post 13 so that the position or the rest 56 can bevaried to suit the length of the bags being opened by the distendingmembers l8 and i9.

In the operation of the apparatus above de-- scribed it is desirablethat the bag 26 be held in its fully opened condition by the member isduring the entire filling operation and this is accomplished bymaintaining the electromagnet ii energized during the filling operation..For this purpose a holding means or interlock is pro-* vided formaintaining the switch 5! in the tilted position of Fig. 4 whichcorresponds with the energized condition of the electromagnet. Thisholding means comprises a depending arm or lever El carried by arock-shaft 68 and a finger 69 projecting from the rock-shaft andengageable with the bracket 5% of the switch 5|. The lower end of thearm El carries a pin or screw is which is disposed opposite an opening Hof the member 59. When the bag Ell is on the bagdistending members !8and W the wall 29b thereof covers the opening H and prevents the screwH! from entering the same. This enables the arm til to hold the shaft 68in a rocked position in which the finger E9 engages the bracket 5&- andholds the same in the depressed or tilted position shown in Fig. 4.

The rock-shaft 68 is suitably supported as by being mounted in a pair ofbrackets l2 depending from the underside of the table and mounted on theguide members 24. The arm 67 is preferably counterbalanced by a weightedlever 18 projecting from the shaft 68 and which is engageable with arest id for holding the arm in the initial position shown in Fig. 2 inwhich the screw it) thereof is ready to be engaged by the wall 2% of thebag 29 when the distending member i9 i shifted by a working stroke ofthe slide 22. When the filled bag drops off the distending members itand id as explained above, the screw iii is released and enters theopening H and the corresponding rocking movement imparted to the shaft68 lifts the holding finger iii? and permits the electric switch 5! totilt back to its open position shown in Fig. 2 for deenergizing theelectromagnet 4!. When the operator applies the next bag to the members58 and I9 the switch 5! will again be actuated and the entire cycle willbe automatically followed through from that point until the bag has beenfilled and drops off of the distending members 18' and 19 by theabove-described. tilting of the power of course from the d ste'r ereceived on a at a previou'sl With the disch' distending d the accomp ereadily under provides an 'i"; apparatus y ened and =fille' e etoforenecessary a1 bags to is therein which tion until after the b' filledt'erial mg d that in initia e for the opera next bag recess of rmsfilldescriboperation nderstood 'r broader -;sense g of any 'd Ti nto abag and d g is filled to its and fillmg a I described h e understood ldnot be regar mited in scope s and modifi s of the we claim leseribe-d, ropening device oils of bag a ber e I open and 010 of said b r electripowe said valve reuit *o causin vice, and asw t itch be- 111 of beinglocate so as to be e the bag to s, a delively I adjacent stibst'a atedbeneath -ted into a ba between said on of said eparating sa d menib agapart and a 'm zonditicn to open fio'w or" electric aid valve and i tto'said one member, a circuit :for causing energization of said powerdevice, and a switch controlling said circuit, said switch being of theself-contained tiltable type and being located adjacent said-members soas to be engaged. and tilted by the upper'end of said bag during saidrelative telescopic movement.

3. In bag opening and fillingapparatus, a delivery'chute for bulkmateriaLa bag opening deviceoperable to spread apart the walls of a bagand to maintain the bag in an open condition beneath said chute, and asupporting means for supporting said bag while the latter is in saidopen condition and "being filled with said material, said supportingmeans including an arm forming a bag rest adapted to be engagedby aportion of thehottom of the bag and which-arm is curved downwardly andpivoted for downward swinging'to permit'the filled bag to movedownwardly and disengage itself from said opening device.

4. in bag opening and filling apparatus, a delivery chute for bulkmaterial, a bag opening device having a pair of depending membersadapted to extend into a bag to be'opened and being capable of relativeseparating movement for spreading apart the walls of the bag and formaintaining the bag in an open condition beneath said chute, and'asupporting means for supper ing said bag while the latter is in saidopen condition and receiving a predetermined charge of said material,said supporting means comprising a down ardly curved arm pivoted fordownward swinging movement by the bag upon the latter receiving saidpredetermined charge therein-seas to permit the-charged bag to drop ofsaid depending members of the opening device.

5. In bag opening and filling apparatus, a delivery chute for bulkmaterial, a bag opening'device having a pair of depending membersadaptedto extend into a bag telescopically applied thereto, oneci said membersbeing stationary and adapted to hold one side wall of the bagsubstantially stationary, and abag rest spaced from said stationarymember and including a downwardly curved arm extending toward said stationarymemberand pivoted for swinging in a direction'downwardly and awayfrom said stationary member, the other member of said pair being movableaway from the stationary memher for distending the other side wall ofthe bag to an open condition beneath said chutein which a portion ofthe-bottom of the bag overlaps said curved arm of the bag rest, said bagrest acting to retain the bagon said members during the fil ingoperation and being movable by the action of the bag on said curved armto permit the bag to drop off said members when the bag has been filled.

6. In bag opening andv filling apparatus, a de livery chute for bulkmaterial, a bag opening device having a pair of depending membersadapted to extend into a bag telescopically applied thereto, one of saidmembers being stationary and adapted to holdone side wall of the bagsubstanti ly stationary, and a bag rest spaced from one ry member, theother member of said pair being movable away the stationary member fordist-ending the other side wall of the bag to an open condition beneathsaid chute in which a portion of the bottom of the bag overlaps the bagrest, said bagrest comprising av pair of connectedarms one of which is adownwardly curved arm adapted to be 'engagedbythe' bagan'd to retain thebag on said members during the filling operation, said rest beingpivoted, for downward swinging movement of said curved arm to permit thefilled bag to drop off said members, and a counterbalance on the otherof said arms for preventing such downward swinging of the curved armuntil the bag has been filled, said counterbalance being movable alongsaid other arm for adjusting said rest to be responsive to different bagloads.

7. In bag opening and filling apparatus, a frame, a delivery chute forbulk material mounted in fixed relation on said frame, a pair ofsubstantially coextending members depending from said frame and adaptedto extend into a bag when the latter is telescopically applied thereto,one of said members being fixed on said frame and adapted to hold oneside wall of the bag substantially stationary, a bag rest spaced fromsaid fixed member, means mounting the other member of said pair on saidframe so as to be movable away from the fixed member for distending theother side wall of the bag to an open condition beneath said chute inwhich the bottom of the bag overlaps the bag rest, a valve comprising amember separate from said chute and movable relative thereto to open andclosed positions for controlling the fiow of said bulk material throughsaid chute, and means for concurrently opening said valve and impartinthe distending movement to said other member, said bag rest comprising adownwardly curved arm acting to retain the bag on said members duringthe filling operation and being movable downwardly and laterally topermit the bag to drop off said members when the bag has been filled.

8. In bag opening and filling apparatus, a frame, a delivery chute forbulk material, a pair of substantially coextending members dependingfrom said frame and adapted to extend into a bag when the latter istelescopically applied thereto, one of said members being fixed on saidframe and adapted to hold one side wall of the bag substantiallystationary, a slide movable on said frame, the other member of said pairbeing connected with said slide for movement away from the fixed memberfor distending the other side wall of the bag to an open conditionbeneath said chute, a valve movable to open and closed positions forcontrolling the flow of said bulk material through said chute, cam meansconnected with said slide and adapted to actuate said valve concurrentlywith the movement of said other member, and an electric power deviceoperably connected with said slide.

9. In bag opening and filling apparatus, a frame, a delivery chute forbulk material, a pair of substantially coextending members dependingfrom said frame and adapted to extend into a bag when the latter istelescopically applied thereto, one of said members being fixed on saidframe and adapted to hold one side wall of the bag substantiallystationary, a slide movable on said frame, the other member of said pairbeing connected with said slide for movement away from the fixed memberfor distending the other side wall of the bag to an open conditionbeneath said chute, a magnet on said frame and having a core, and anarmature connected with the slide and responsive to energization of themagnet for causing a working stroke of said slide, said armature beingdisposed for movement relative to said core in a substantially verticaldirection and having a mass suflicient to counterbalance said slide andcause a return stroke thereof.

10. In bag opening and filling apparatus, a frame, a delivery chute forbulk material, a pair of substantially coextending members dependingfrom said frame and adapted to extend into a bag when the latter istelescopically applied thereto, one of said members being fixed on saidframe and adapted to hold one side wall of the bag substantiallystationary, a slide movable on said frame, the other member of said pairbeing connected with said slide for movement away from the fixed memberfor distending the other side wall of the bag to an open conditionbeneath said chute, a valve movable to open and closed 7 positions forcontroling the flow of said bulk material through said chute, cam meansconnected with said slide and adapted to actuate said valve concurrentlywith the movement of said other member, a magnet on said frame, and anarmature connected with the slide and responsive to energization of themagnet for causing a working stroke of said slide, said armature havinga mass sufiicient to counterbalance said slide and cause a return strokethereof.

11. In bag opening and filling apparatus, a frame, a delivery chute forbulk material, a pair of substantially coextending members dependingfrom said frame and adapted to extend into a bag when the latter istelescopically applied thereto, one of said members being fixed on saidframe and adapted to hold one side wall of the bag substantiallystationary, a slide movable on said frame, the other member of said pairbeing connected with said slide for movement away from the fixed memberfor distending the other-side wall of the bag to an open conditionbeneath said chute, a valve movable to open and closed positions forcontrolling the flow of said bulk material through said chute, cam meansconnected with said slide and adapted to actuate said valve concurrentlywith the movement of said, other member, and electric power deviceoperably connected with said slide, a circuit for causing energizationof said power device, and a switch controlling said circuit, said switchbeing of the tiltable type and being located adjacent said fixed memberso as to be engaged and tilted to circuit-closing position by the upperend of said bag,

12. In bag opening and filling apparatus, a frame, a delivery chute forbulk material, a pair of substantially coextending members dependingfrom said frame and adapted to extend into a bag when the latter istelescopically applied thereto, one of said members being fixed on saidframe and adapted to hold one side wall of the bag substantiallystationary, a slide movable on said frame, the other member of said pairbeing connected with said slide for movement away from the fixed memberfor distending the other side wall of the bag to an open conditionbeneath said chute, a valve movable to open and closed positions forcontrolling the flow of said bulk material through said chute, cam meansconnected with said slide and adapted to actuate said valve concurrentlywith the movement of said other member, an electric power deviceoperably connected with said slide, a circuit for causing energizationof said power device, a switch controlling said circuit, said switchbeing of the tiltable type and being located adjacent said fixed memberso as to be engaged and tilted to circuitclosing position by the uplperend of said bag, and holding means adapted to retain said switch in itscircuit-closing position while the bag is on said members.

apparatus, a aterial, a pair ers depending extend into a ically appliedfixed on said .e wall of the g rest spaced vable on said air beingcontially parallel mber for dishich the botrest, a valve concurrentlymember, and nnected with 'etain the bag peration and I drop oil saidled.

apparatus, a aterial, a pair rs depending xtend into a fixed on said .ewall of the rest spaced concurrently member, an

actuated to 1' end of said g the switch the bag reart the walls opencondining device vable membag by relaaid members ber separate e theretoto ling the flow ute, an electuating said a circuit for evice, and acally applied :12 switch controlling said circuit, said switch being ofthe self-contained tiltable type and being located adjacent said bagopening device so as to be engaged and tilted during the final portion,of said relative telescopic movement.

16. In bag opening and filling apparatus, a frame, a delivery chute forbulk material, a pair of substantially coextending members dependingfrom said frame and adapted to extend into a bag when the latter istelescopically applied thereto, one of said members being fixed on saidframe and adapted to hold one side wall of the bag substantiallystationary, a slide mounted on said frame for movement in oppositedirections, the other member of said pair being connected with saidslide for movement away from the fixed member for distending the otherside wall of the bag to an open condition beneath said chute duringmovement of the slide in one direction, a valve movable to open andclosed positions for controlling the flow of said bulk materialthroughsaid chute, a power device operable to cause actuation of saidslide, and means providing an operating connection between said valveand slide for causing openingof said valve in response to movement ofsaid slide in said one direction and closing of said valve in responsetomovement of said slide in the opposite direction,

17. In bag opening and filling apparatus, a frame, a delivery chute forbulk material mounted in fixed relation on said frame, a pair ofsubstantially coextending members depending from said frame and adaptedto extend into a bag when the latter is telescopically applied thereto,one of said members being fixed on said frame and adapted to hold oneside wall of the bag substantially stationary, a slide mounted on saidframe for movement in opposite directions, the other member of said pairbeing connected with said slide for movement away from the fixed memberfor distending the other side wall of the bag to an open conditionbeneath sai chute during movement of the slide in one direction, a valvecomprising a valve member separate from said chute and movable relativethereto to open and closed positions for controlling the flow of saidbull; material through said chute, .a power device operable to causeactuation of said slide, and means providing an operatmg connectionbetween said valve member and slide for causing opening of said valvemember in response to movement of said slide in said one direction andclosing of said, valve member in response to movement of said slide inthe opposite direction.

MICHAEL J. HARRINGTON. SAMUEL E. HAMMER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,125,802 Bracy Jan. 19, 19152,258,631 Sowden Oct. 14, 1941 2,272,258 Allen Feb, 10, 1942 2,409,626Harrington et a1. Oct. 22, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date282,510 Great Britain Dec. 29, 1929

